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The Irish Secondary Teachers Association is voting its members in favor of industrial action on a number of issues related to the reopening of schools.
The union’s Central Executive Committee made the decision after a meeting held today.
Topics of concern include physical distancing in schools, provision of PPE, definition of close contacts, as well as tests and response times for those tests.
There is also concern about the provisions being made for high-risk staff members.
ASTI said IT resources for students and teachers to facilitate remote teaching and learning are also a concern.
Association president Ann Piggott said it was “unacceptable” for high-risk teachers to be asked to work in “crowded” classrooms, adding that “the safety of students and their teachers must be the priority.”
Piggott said teachers report new work practices are being implemented without consulting with school staff.
“It is unthinkable that at a time when teachers have shown great commitment to their students and to maintaining education, schools would introduce job changes that would have an additional negative impact on teachers’ working lives. crisis opportunism and cannot go unanswered. “
The ASTI members’ ballot will also address the issue of returning teachers who are “forced to work under precarious contracts and those who endure unequal wages,” the union said.
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